Collapsible drawers and chest

Abstract

A collapsible chest of drawers is provided. Front and rear frames are formed with vertical corner posts joined by horizontally aligned shelf supports. Flexible material extends between pairs of shelf supports to form shelves to hold the drawers. The front and rear frames are joined at each side by a side frame having legs rotatably joined in an X shape with the opposing ends of each leg rotatably fastened to a different one of the front and rear frames. The upper or lower legs also translate so the front and rear frames can move toward each other to a collapsed configuration. A folding brace holds the frames in the expanded, use position. The drawers may also be collapsible.

1 . A collapsible chest of drawers having a front and rear with two opposing sides, comprising:
 a collapsible frame having a front frame formed by first and second front corner posts connected by a plurality of shelf supports and a rear frame formed by first and second rear corner posts connected by a plurality of shelf supports that are generally aligned with the shelf supports of the front frame when the first posts are opposite each other and the second posts are opposite each other;   at least one shelf comprising a sheet of flexible material extending between and connected to a pair of the generally aligned front and rear supports to form a generally horizontal support during use;   first and second collapsible and generally parallel side supports each having two elongated members, each elongated member having a first end rotatably connected to one of the first or second posts and an opposing second end rotatably and slidably connected to the other of the first or second post, the elongated members being rotatably joined between the first and second ends;   first and second braces extending between and configured to be connected to different ones of the opposing front and rear corner posts during use;   at least one drawer sized to fit between adjacent shelf supports and the front corner posts as the drawer slides on one of the at least one shelf.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 1 , wherein at least one brace is rotatably connected to one of the corner posts, each brace having two legs joined at a rotatable joint located between the front and rear posts to allow the brace legs to move toward and away from each other as the front and rear frames move toward and away from each other, the braces having a first substantially straight position placing the front and rear posts to which the brace is connected at a predetermined distance, the braces having a second folded position with the front and rear frames adjacent each other; 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of drawers, each of which is collapsible. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 1 , wherein there are two braces on each side of the chest of drawers, one adjacent a bottom and one adjacent a top of the front frame. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 1 , further comprising a top placed over a top end of the four posts. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 1 , wherein the shelves are removably fastened to the shelf supports. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 3 , wherein the collapsible drawers each include a drawer having opposing front and rear panels joined by two opposing sides and a flexible bottom, with the sides being hinged at the middle to allow the sides to fold inward as the front and rear panels move toward each other. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 4 , wherein one of the braces is rotatably connected to the front and rear posts at the same location as the rotatable end of the elongated members. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 4 , further comprising a rotation stop on a plurality of the braces, the stop located to resist further rotation of the legs in one direction when the brace is substantially straight. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf supports are permanently fastened to the corner posts. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible chest of drawers of  claim 1 , wherein the second ends of the elongated members rotatably fasten to a mount encircling a majority of a corner post, the mount configured to slide along a length of the post between adjacent shelf supports. 
     
     
         12 . A kit for a chest of drawers having a front and opposing back with two opposing sides, comprising:
 front and rear frames each having two corner posts joined by a plurality of generally parallel shelf supports located to form a plurality of generally horizontal shelves during use;   a plurality of flexible shelves configured to extend between and connect to a pair of aligned shelf supports during use to form the shelves;   two collapsible and parallel side supports each joining the front and rear frames to form a generally rectangular enclosure during use, each side support having two crossed members rotatably joined to form an X shape during use having two top or two bottom distal ends that are fastened to allow translation along a length of the post to which the member is fastened as well as allowing rotation, and with the other of the top or bottom distal ends fastened to the posts to allow rotation, the side supports having a first, folded position with the crossed members close together when the front and rear frames are adjacent to each other and having a second expanded position with the crossed members spread apart when the front and rear frames are separated for use to support drawers;   at least one brace extending between the front and rear frames to limit the relative movement of the frames in the second expanded position; and   a plurality of collapsible drawers sized to fit into the shelves during use.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the brace comprises an elongated member rotatably connected to a post on one of the front or rear frames and releasably engaging a post on the other of the front and rear frames. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the brace comprises two members rotatably joined at the middle and having a first end rotatably connected to the front frame and a second opposing end rotatably connected to the second frame. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , further comprising a stop to limit relative rotation of the joined members. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the stop is located so the rotatable joint moves away from an adjacent end of the frame as the front and rear frames move toward each other. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 12 , further comprising a top sized to fit over a top of the corner posts. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein there are four braces, two connected to each of the front and rear corner posts.